✨ Aries (POV)
Jay was rolling around on my bed like she owned the place.
I sat in the chair, scrolling through my phone after finishing my reading, when a message popped up.
Ella.
Did you eat?
I typed back quickly.
Yeah. You?
"Who are you chatting with?" Jay asked, still rolling across the bed, her voice casual but curious.
"My girlfriend. Ella," I said.
She froze.
Completely.
Then she sat up so fast it almost made me blink.
"You have a girlfriend?!" she shouted.
I frowned slightly. "Yeah. Why? Can't I have one?"
She stared at me for a second… then narrowed her eyes.
"You don't look like someone who has a girlfriend," she said bluntly. "She must be weird… to like someone grumpy like you."
"What the—" I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
It hit her straight in the face.
"Why are you even in my room? Don't you have your own?"
"I like your room more," she shot back, throwing the pillow back at me. "And I don't like your girlfriend. Change her."
I scoffed. "Why would I?"
I threw the pillow again.
"You have weird taste in men," I added.
That did it.
She grabbed another pillow and launched it at me.
Within seconds, it turned into a full fight—pillows flying, laughter filling the room, her energy wild and uncontrollable like always.
For a moment…
Everything felt normal.
Like nothing bad could reach us.
Until—
The door opened.
Kuya.
He stood there, tense.
Serious.
"I need to talk to you," he said.
Just like that—
The air changed.
I followed him without arguing.
We stepped into his office.
The door closed behind us.
Silence.
"Did you and Jay go out last night?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said. "She was hungry. We went to the mini-mart."
His jaw tightened.
He was hiding something.
"Don't go out at night again," he said.
"Kuya—" I tried, but he avoided my question.
"Did something happen?" I asked.
"Nothing," he said.
A lie.
I didn't push further.
But I could feel it—something was wrong.
He kept checking on Jay, watching her, as something could happen at any moment.
…
The next morning, I passed by Kuya's office.
The door was slightly open.
That's when I noticed it—
Two envelopes.
Half-open.
Something felt off.
I stepped closer.
Photos.
Jay.
One at the mini-mart.
Another in our garden.
My chest tightened.
Someone had been watching us.
Following her.
There was something written on the back—
A message.
A warning.
Cold.
Before I could read more—
Kuya's hand came down, taking the envelope from me.
"Did you see that?" he asked.
I looked straight at him.
"Is Jay in danger?"
For a second—
He didn't answer.
Then slowly…
He nodded.
Something inside me dropped.
"I'll handle it," he said. "Just be careful."
His phone rang.
He picked it up immediately, turning away.
"Did you get the location?" he said, his voice sharp.
I didn't wait.
I walked out.
Back to my room.
Jay wasn't there anymore.
For the first time—
The room felt… empty.
I grabbed my phone and opened the group chat.
Jare. Kiefer. Percy. Yuri.
My fingers moved fast.
Me: Kiefer… we need to talk.
✨ Kiefer (POV) LONDON
After talking to Angelo, I couldn't sleep.
Not even for a second.
Another envelope.
Another message.
They were getting closer.
Too close.
I sat on the edge of the bed, phone in my hand, staring at nothing.
Then I called Rory.
He picked up immediately.
"Bro…" he muttered, still half asleep.
"Any updates?" I asked, my voice tight. "Did you track him? Any lead?"
A pause.
"We're trying. That asshole is hiding well… it's hard to track him."
Not enough.
"Work with Edrix. Cole said he'll try too," I said, ending the call without waiting.
I called Edrix next.
"Did you find anything?" I asked.
"Nothing, bro. I even hacked hospital records… but I got nothing."
I exhaled sharply. "Keep trying. Don't let this slip again."
I leaned back, running a hand through my hair.
Jay.
The photos.
The threat.
This wasn't random.
This was planned.
My phone buzzed again.
A message.
Aries:Kiefer… we need to talk.
Then more messages flooded in.
Yuri. Percy. Jare.
I didn't hesitate.
I started a conference call.
"What is happening, Kiefer?" Jare asked immediately. "Cole Kuya is acting weird."
"You texted everyone except me," Yuri snapped. "Why?"
I let out a dry breath. "Are you jealous?"
"Of course," I'm your best friend," Yuri shot back. "We're talking about Jay-Jay."
"Tell us, Kiefer," Percy said, voice serious. "We're her brothers too."
Aries didn't wait.
"Jay-Jay is in danger. I saw photos. Kuya isn't telling me anything."
"What photos?" Jare asked. "What happened to her?"
Silence.
Then I said it.
"Ram. Jason. They're back."
"Who?" Jare asked.
"Our old enemies," Aries answered quietly.
"Why Jay?" Jare asked.
"Because she's connected to all of us," Yuri answered.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
"Then why hide it?" Jare asked.
"Because Angelo and Cole think they can handle it," I said. "They didn't want to worry everyone."
"Any leads?" Percy asked.
"None. Rory and Edrix are trying. Angelo and Cole are tracking him too," I said. Then added, "I'll be in Manila in a week."
"Kiefer," Aries said, his voice low and dangerous, "if it's about Jay… I'll handle anyone."
The call ended.
One by one.
Silence again.
My jaw tightened.
The door opened.
"Kuya," one of the staff said, "Clyden wants to see you."
"I need to go to Manila," I said immediately.
"Is it about Jay-Jay again?" he asked, rubbing his neck. Then sighed. "Finish your work first. Then go."
He didn't argue.
That alone told me everything.
Clyden was on our side now.
Because of her.
I stood up.
Something had already started.
And I wasn't there.
I grabbed my phone and walked out.
I got into the car.
"Office?" the driver asked.
I didn't answer.
Then—
"Airport," I said.
I wasn't waiting anymore.
I called the pilot.
"Prepare the jet."
By the time I reached the airport, everything was ready.
I boarded without hesitation.
The moment I sat down—
My phone rang.
Clyden.
I answered.
"Why the fuck didn't you tell me?" he shouted.
He already knew.
"I was going to," I said calmly.
"When?" he snapped. "After everything over??"
Silence.
"Where are you?" he demanded.
"On my way to Manila."
"You fucking idiot," he growled. "You left without telling me? The second I see you—"
The call cut.
I stared at the screen.
"…Is he coming to Manila too? "I muttered.
Before I could think—
Another call.
Angelo.
I answered immediately.
"Kiefer," he said, voice sharp. "We found a lead. I'm heading there. Meet me at King's Group."
My expression hardened.
"I'm on my way."
I hung up.
Leaning back in my seat, I closed my eyes for a second.
Just one thought in my head—
Hold on, Jay.
Because this time—
I'm not letting anyone touch you.
✨ Kiefer (POV) — MANILA
The second the plane landed—
I didn't wait.
I walked straight from the runway and got into the first taxi.
"Go to this address," I said, showing him the location.
King's Ground.
My phone buzzed.
Edrix.
"I'm in Manila," I said immediately. "Did you get anything?"
"Bro… I tracked someone from Ram's group," he said. "They're moving in clusters. Feels like a setup… like they're laying traps."
My jaw tightened.
"Then we split," I said. "Angelo found something, too. I'll update you once I confirm."
"Got it."
The call ended.
But the uneasiness didn't.
It only got worse.
Then—
My phone rang again.
Aries.
I picked it up instantly.
"Kiefer—" His voice was off. Wrong. "I can't find Jay-Jay."
My grip tightened.
"What do you mean?"
"I found an envelope," he said, breathing hard. "There was a message."
A pause.
"It said… I got her."
Everything inside me went still.
"Did you check the CCTV?" I asked, my voice turning sharp.
"…Yeah," he said. "Some guys took her in a van."
A pause.
"I saw him."
My eyes darkened.
"Ram?"
"…Yeah."
The call ended.
No hesitation.
I dialed Rory.
"Tell me you found something," I said.
"I think I did," he replied. "Drew knows a guy from Ram's group. We used him. Got access to his phone—installed a tracker."
A breath.
"But I can't guarantee it's exact."
"I don't need perfect," I said. "I need direction."
A second of silence.
Then—
"Abandoned warehouse. Road No. 10."
That was enough.
"Send the location. Now."
I hung up.
Shared the location in the group.
No more waiting.
No more planning.
Only one thing left—
Get her back.
The taxi hadn't even fully stopped—
I was already out.
The warehouse stood ahead.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
I didn't slow down.
Didn't think.
I walked straight in.
✨ INSIDE — WAREHOUSE
Voices.
Laughter.
Careless.
They didn't even see me coming.
Big mistake.
The first one turned—
Too late.
My fist slammed into his face.
He dropped instantly.
The others froze.
"What the—"
I grabbed one by the collar—
My hand is closing around his throat.
"Where is my wife?" I roared.
Fear flashed in his eyes.
"She's inside—!" he choked.
I threw him aside.
A knife flashed toward me—
I caught his wrist.
Twisted.
Kicked his leg out.
He hit the ground screaming.
Then—
More footsteps.
More men.
They were coming in.
A lot of them.
Good.
I grabbed a metal rod from the floor.
And stepped forward.
Bodies rushed in.
I didn't stop.
Didn't hold back.
The rod came down hard—
Again.
Again.
Again.
"Careful, bro!" Percy shouted, blocking a strike aimed at me.
"Did you find her?" Yuri yelled, taking someone down beside me.
"Inside," I said. "She has to be."
"We'll handle this!" Aries cut in, already fighting two at once. "Go!"
"Section E is almost here!" Jare added. "Move!"
That was all I needed.
I didn't look back.
I ran.
The deeper I went—
The quieter it got.
Until—
I saw her.
Tied to a chair.
Head lowered.
Still.
For a second—
My world stopped.
"Jay…"
I rushed forward.
My chest is tightening with every second.
Then—
She moved.
Slowly.
Her head lifted.
Her eyes found mine.
And in that moment—
Everything broke.
Relief.
Pain.
Anger.
All at once.
Her lips parted slightly.
A soft… broken smile appeared on her face.
And then—
Barely a whisper.
"…Kiefer."
I froze.
Because she said my name.
Not confused.
Not unsure.
Like she knew it.
Like she felt it.
My chest tightened.
"Yeah…" I whispered, my voice rough. "I'm here."